Chukar identification

[Scottyfisher]

Hi all
New to the forum, been hunting and fishing Washington state since 1965. Just don’t get out that much, but getting into the later part of life and want to get back into what I love to do and that is upland bird hunting! Back in the early to mid 70’s my dad I would chukar hunt whiskey dick area with so so success. I see that chukar is open through the 31st and Huns closed the 15th.
Question, what’s the best way to tell the difference when they flush? Since we used to get a mixed bag and could never really never always tell the difference.
 
Thanks

[metlhead]

I still can't tell on the flush. My area has both and my best guesses are knowledge of each ridge.

[buglebuster]

Shoot first ask questions later  just kidding. Usually they are very easy to tell apart, just by looking at them 

[Scottyfisher]

Shoot first ask questions later  just kidding. Usually they are very easy to tell apart, just by looking at them 

     

[Scottyfisher]

I still can't tell on the flush. My area has both and my best guesses are knowledge of each ridge.

[Wingin it]

They aren’t too hard to tell apart. I will say that Huns always rise together on a flush while Chukar will rise more sporadically. That may help you out until you can tell the difference.

[Scottyfisher]

They aren’t too hard to tell apart. I will say that Huns always rise together on a flush while Chukar will rise more sporadically. That may help you out until you can tell the difference.

Thank you, solid info!

[salish]

They aren’t too hard to tell apart. I will say that Huns always rise together on a flush while Chukar will rise more sporadically. That may help you out until you can tell the difference.

Agree, and in my experiences huns occupy grounds that are more plateau-like, or more wife open spaces where they can see predators coming (but not always). I find more chukar in steeper rimrock country.

[boneaddict]

They sound different, but thats hard to describe, and they look different.   I suppose if you see rust, dont shoot 

[nwwanderer]

Whole covey flushes with the huns, and little running compared to the chukars.  In the breaks of the Snake have never found them together.  Good luck!!!

[PheasantHunter88]

Anyone ever hunt chukar in the YTC area? Is it worth it?

[salish]

Anyone ever hunt chukar in the YTC area? Is it worth it?

I've hunted the YTC several times about 15 years ago. My buddies and I were excited to find a lot of chukar in one area, but then other areas were a bit slower. It was a little better than hunting other known areas for chukar, but not THAT much better. And the area is so vast it's kind of hard to know where to hunt. One thing that was very welcome was the lack of trash, spent shotgun shells all over the place, and people. We eventually decided that the constraints on hunters, the hassles of obtaining permits and off and on closures of some areas to hunting wasn't worth the effort. I may try it again some day.

[pianoman9701]

They sound different, but thats hard to describe, and they look different.   I suppose if you see rust, dont shoot 

This is true. The squawk of a chuk has a Western US accent. The squawk of a Hun sounds Eastern European. Glad to help. 

[follow maggie]

Chukars have redder legs usually more district black & white bars on their wings. They also have kind of a black mask up the side of their face & across the eyes. Huns have more of a red head. But it can sure be hard to tell all of that on a flush. They’re all quick little buggers.

[John B]

Late to the party here… my first few seasons I had a hard time telling the difference on the flush. After enough exposure, it’s not difficult. Huns flush tight together and are darker, chukar are more gray than brown and flush spread out and larger coveys can have a few waves of birds. There are a number of other subtle differences that are difficult to put in words, knowing your dog and reading their body language can give some clues to what they’re working, chukar usually run further while huns tend to either hold or flush. This all may be subject to change based on your hunting style and pace.